4. William Miller: His Methods and Message

Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventism, Dale Ratzlaff, Feature, Investigative Judgment

Many of the distinctive, foundational doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist church can be traced either to William Miller, to a reinterpretation of his teachings—after they were proved to be in error—or to others who were connected with or influenced by him.1 

By any standards Miller and his revival represent a noteworthy part of the nineteenth-century American history. In fact, Millerism is one of the most widespread apocalyptic revivals ever, and there are still several million people, Seventh-day Adventists, members of the Radio Church of God [now the Worldwide Church of God], or of the many small Adventist churches and even Jehovah’s Witnesses, that in one way or another have to reckon with William Miller in their spiritual pedigree.2 

Much has been written about William Miller,3 but for our purposes all we need to know is that he started “the great second advent movement” by his predictions that Christ would come in 1843. With this brief introduction, let us discover from Miller’s own works his methods and message.

In the last chapter we saw that Ellen White gave William Miller a comprehensive, glowing endorsement. She, speaking with “prophetic authority,” stated unequivocally that God chose Miller, guided his mind in the study of the Scriptures, and showed him a method of Bible interpretation which linked one part of Scripture to another in such a way as to help him discover a “perfect chain of truth.”

The purpose of this chapter is to examine and evaluate Miller’s method of Bible study and the conclusions he reached by the use of these methods. Did he really discover “a perfect chain of truth,” as Ellen White stated? The stakes are high for Adventists. If Miller was wrong, then Ellen White was equally wrong. 

As we evaluate Miller’s methods and message, we are not evaluating the character or sincerity of William Miller. We should remember that Miller was not a trained theologian and he used methods which others of his time also used. Nevertheless, it is our purpose to seriously look at the methods Miller used and to see if, indeed, these could be endorsed by God. Was he, as Ellen White said, actually led by divine wisdom to understand portions of Scripture and uncover truths which had long been hidden from the people of God? Even though it is our desire to be kind to Miller the man, we must be candid in our evaluation of Miller’s methods and message.

Miller published a document 

in January, 1843, the very year he expected Christ to return. This synopsis of his views lists fifteen modes of arriving at 1843 under the heading: “Time Proved in Fifteen Different Ways.”4 

Below are listed the fifteen proofs Miller used to prove Christ was coming in 1843. These, with accompanying charts, are found in The End of Historicism, by Kai Arasola, pages 219 -225. This chapter will draw heavily upon Dr. Arasola’s work on William Miller. Dr. Arasola is a Seventh-day Adventist and earned his Doctorate of Theology in Uppsala University in Sweden. 

I have tried to reproduce this important document accurately as it was originally published. I have chosen not to correct any original errors. Neither have I, in this chapter, inserted the scholarly “(sic)” to indicate that the error was in the original. To do so would be distracting to the reader. I encourage the reader to overlook any spelling or grammatical errors and concentrate on the biblical arguments themselves. I have, however, changed the way the references were originally listed, to make for easier identification. For example, instead of “Matth. xvi. 27” as used by Miller, I have simply listed this reference as “Mt. 16:27.” Because of the importance of this material, I have also chosen to leave these long quotations in the regular font size for easier reading. 

I encourage—yes, even implore—the reader to take the needed time to carefully read each of Miller’s fifteen proofs. Examine his use of Scripture and his resulting conclusions. Without a thorough understanding of this chapter, it will be impossible to grasp the arguments and conclusions of this book. This chapter locks in—or out—many of the unique aspects of Adventist theology, hermeneutics and the prophetic ministry of Ellen White. 

At the end of each “proof” a short evaluation will be given. It is not my purpose to give an in-depth evaluation of these fifteen proofs. Most readers will immediately draw their own conclusions. 

TIME PROVED IN FIFTEEN DIFFERENT WAYS 

ONE: I prove it by the time given by Moses, in the 26th chapter of Leviticus, being seven times that the people of God are to be in bondage to the kingdoms of this world; or in Babylon, literal and mystical; which seven times cannot be understood less than seven times 360 revolutions of the earth in its orbit, making 2520 years. I believe this began according to Jeremiah 15:4, —“And I will cause them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem,” and Isa. 7:8, “For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Resin: and within three score and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people,”—when Manasseh was carried captive to Babylon, and Israel was no more a nation,—see chronology, 2 Chron. 33:9, “So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel,”—the 677th year B.C. Then take 677 out of 2520, leaves A.D. 1843, when the punishment of the people of God will end.5

Evaluation 

This “proof” is a classic nineteenth-century illustration of proof-texting running wild. The context of the proof texts are ignored and supporting texts are linked together haphazardly.6 Lev. 26:18 reads as follows: 

If also after these things, you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins (Lev. 26:18). 

This says nothing about the second coming of Christ. Not only that, but this is not even a time prophecy at all. The word “times” is not in Hebrew, and the emphasis of this passage is on the degree of punishment, not the length of time of punishment. This was brought to the attention of Miller by Professor G. Bush. However: 

Miller insisted on the superiority of the King James translation as fifty times better to any, however learned, “opinion” on the original text.7 

This first proof is totally invalid and makes a mockery of sound biblical interpretation. If this is one of the links in the “perfect chain of truth,” it is a broken link. 

TWO: It is proved typically by the year of release. See Deut. 15:1, 2: “At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release; and this is the manner of the release; every creditor that lendeth aught unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor or of his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.” Also Jer. 34:14: At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother a Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee, and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee; but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.” We are, by this type, taught that the people of God will be delivered from their servitude and bondage when they have served their 7 prophetic years. 7 times 360 years is 2520. Beginning with the captivity of Israel and the king of Judah, Manasseh, 677 B.C., must end in A.D. 1843, when the children of God will be released from all bondage and slavery.8 

Evaluation 

This text says nothing about the second coming of Christ. Here it appears Miller is using an allegorical method of interpretation in that he is giving a meaning to a passage which is not evident in the passage itself. This method was used by some of the early church fathers and also during the dark ages, but was renounced by the reformers as invalid. It has no controls, and by using this method one can make the Bible prove anything. We find here another broken link in the “perfect chain of truth.” 

THREE: It is also proved by the seven years’ war of Zion with her enemies, given to us in Ez. 39:9,10: “And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: so that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire; and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God.” The Children of God will be contending with their enemies, spoiling those that spoiled them, and robbing those that have robbed them, 7 years, prophetic, which is 2520 common years. Beginning as before, when Babylon began to spoil and rob them, and when they by the fire of the truth began to burn up the weapons of their enemies, in this moral warfare; this will end in 1843.9 

Evaluation 

Here Miller is taking an obscure, apocalyptic section in Ezekiel, which mentions people burning weapons for seven years, and turning this into a prophecy of the second coming. The seven years are set forth in Scripture as the time during which these weapons are to be burned, not as the time span before this burning takes place. Realizing this, Miller taught that the burning of enemy weapons started in 667 B.C. and would continue until 1843. Miller relies on one of his main hermeneutical principles: prophetic time, by which he means that a prophetic day equals a literal year. To conclude that this “proof” is a link in that “perfect chain of truth” is absurd.10 

FOUR: It is proved, also, by the sign of the Sabbath. Ex. 31:13 -17: “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore: for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done, but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath-day he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.” Heb. 4:4, 9-11: “For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise: And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

As God was six days creating the old heavens and earth, and rested on the seventh; so it is a sign Christ will also labor six days in creating the new heavens and earth, and rest on the seventh. How long is a day with the Lord? Peter tells us in his 2 Epistle 3:8: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” If, then, a thousand years is a day with the Lord, how long has Christ been to work creating the new? I answer, if we will allow the Bible to make us a chronology, we shall find this year, 1843, the 6000 years from Adam’s fall will be finished. Then the Anti-typical Sabbath of 1000 years will commence. Rev. 10:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”11 

Evaluation 

It appears that anytime the number seven is mentioned in Scripture it becomes a prophecy of the second coming. I have written at length on the topic of the Sabbath in Sabbath in Christ, with a whole chapter dedicated to this reference in Hebrews. Neither Exodus 31 nor Hebrews 4 could be construed to be a time prophecy of the second coming. Here again we see allegorizing and proof-texting running wild. This is not a link in “a perfect chain of truth,” but a blatant misuse of Scripture. 

FIVE: Again, we can prove it be the typical jubilee. Lev. 25:8 -13: “And thou shalt number seven Sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound, on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty through all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you; ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. For it is the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you, ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. In the year of this jubilee, ye shall return every man unto his possession.” Now, if we can show any rule whereby we can find the antitype, we can tell when the people of God will come into the inheritance of the purchased possession, and the redemption of their bodies, and the trump of jubilee will proclaim liberty, a glorious one, through all the land. In order to do this we must take notice of the order of the Sabbaths. “Seven Sabbaths shall be complete.” There is seven kinds of Sabbaths, which all have seven for a given number.

The Jews kept but six Sabbaths: if they had kept the seventh they would have been made perfect without us; but they broke the seventh. “Therefore there remains a keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God.” The Jewish Sabbaths were:— 

1. The 7th day. Ex. 31:15.

2. The 50th day. Lev. 23:15,16. 

3. The 7th week. Deut. 16:9. 

4. The 7th month. Lev. 23:24,25. 

5. The 7th year. Lev. 25:3,4. 

6. The 7 times of 7 years and 50th year Jubilee. 

7. The 7 times 7 Jubilees and the 50th Jubilee will bring us to a complete or perfect Sabbath,—the great Jubilee of Jubilees. Thus 7, times 7, 50 years is 49 times 50 = 2450 years. 

It is very evident no year of release or Jubilee was ever kept after the reign of Josiah, the last king of Jerusalem that obeyed the commandments of the Lord, or kept his statutes. This king’s reign ended B.C. 607. See 2 Ki. 23; 2 Chron. 35, 36 and Jer. 22. After which the Jews never kept, neither could they keep, a year of release, or Jubilee; for neither their kings, their nobles, their people, or their lands could have been redeemed after this. Jer. 44:20-23. Here ended the Jewish Jubilees, when they had not kept more than 21 Jubilees, lacking 28 of coming to the great Jubilee. 

And now the land was to lay desolate, while the people of God were in their enemies’ land. Lev. 26:34. How long is a Jubilee of Jubilees? Ans. 49 times 50 years = 2450 years. When did these years begin? Ans. When the Jews ceased the keeping of the Sabbaths and Jubilees, at the close of Josiah’s reign, B.C. 607. Take 607 from 2450, it leaves A.D. 1843; when the Jubilee of Jubilees will come.12 

Evaluation 

Ellen White said: 

William Miller possessed strong mental powers, disciplined by thought and study; and he added to these the wisdom of heaven by connecting himself with the Source of wisdom.13 

With the above endorsement clearly in mind consider the following: Miller lists no Bible reference for his so-called “seventh Sabbath.” Why? There is none. 

Even within historicist ideals Miller should have seen that in his list of the seven Sabbaths the second and the third sabbath were one and the same festival, the feast of weeks or the Pentecost.14 

There is no record that the Jews ever celebrated the Jubilee. It seems that the Jubilee pointed forward to the release offered by Christ in forgiveness of sins.15 At His first coming Jesus read a prophetic Jubilee passage and then said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk. 4:21). It appears that Miller was looking for prophecies of the second coming that would end in 1843, and would go to great lengths to find them, even when they were not there. We must conclude that this is not a link in “a perfect chain of truth.” 

SIX: I prove it by Hosea 6:1-3: “Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” This prophecy is the two days of the Roman Kingdom, in its Imperial, Kingly and Papal form, with its great iron teeth, tearing and persecuting the people of God; the third day is the same as Rev. 10:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years;” when the people of God will live in his sight, “live and reign with him a thousand years.” If, then, the third day is a thousand years, then the two days are of equal length. When did the two days begin? Ans. When the Jews made a league with the Romans. See Hosea 5:13: “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.” Dan. 9:23: “And after the league made with him, he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.” 1 Maccabees 8, 9. This league was confirmed and ratified, and the Grecian kingdom ceased to rule over God’s people B.C. 158 years. Then add 158 to 1842, and we have 2000 years, or two days; as Peter says, 2 Peter 3:8: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” And 1843 is the first year in the 3d thousand years, or 3d day of the Lord. The world has stood since the fall of man 2000 years under the Patriarchs; 2000 years under the Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Grecian; and 2000 years under the Roman Pagan, Papal and Kingly.16 

Evaluation 

Miller was very fond of this prophecy and referred to it as “a pearl of great price, lying deep in the waters of prophecy.”17 A pattern running through Miller’s interpretive method is that of linking one invalid assumption to another invalid assumption and then attempting to draw out divine “truth.” As a chain is no stronger than its weakest link, so conclusions built upon assumptions are no stronger than their weakest assumption. When several disconnected texts must be pulled together and interpreted using a string of invalid, linking assumptions in order to “prove” what cannot be proved by contextual study, something is wrong. The most—or should it be least—one can say in evaluating this type of Bible “study” is that it is foolhardy, if not outright dangerous and deceptive.

Seven: I can prove it by the length of the vision which Daniel had (8:1–14) of the ram, he-goat and the horn, which Daniel was informed was 2300 days long. Dan. 8:13,14: “then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto the certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot. And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” And from which the 70 weeks were cut off, and fulfilled, the year of Christ’s death. Dan. 9:20–27. Then 70 weeks of years being cut off from 2300 days, makes these days years; and 490 years being fulfilled in A.D. 33, leaves 1810 years to the fulfillment of the vision, which added to 33 make 1843, when the Sanctuary will be cleansed, and the people of God justified.18

Evaluation

Most people—without previous prejudice—who read the above Bible references in context, will immediately see that Daniel 8:1–14 is not a time prophecy of the second coming of Christ. Most scholars believe this wicked “little horn” power to be Antiochus Epiphanies IV, who polluted the sanctuary. He sacrificed a pig on the altar of burnt offerings and set up the image of Zeus, which Daniel calls “The Abomination of Desolation.”19,20 The “Cleansing” referred to in Daniel 8:14 has the literal Jewish sanctuary in view, not the cleansing of the world, as Miller taught. However, the above “proof” was the one proof that was most widely used by Miller and even more so by his followers, and it was this text which, after the 1843 disappointment, helped Adventists regain their momentum. It became the basis of the “seven-month movement” with October 22, 1844, set as the new date for the second coming of Christ. This text is the one text to which Seventh-day Adventists still cling “as the central pillar of Adventism.” Later, as we will see, Adventists reinterpreted this “proof” of Miller’s and it became the foundation for their cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment doctrine to which this book is devoted. This “proof” will be evaluated in depth in subsequent chapters. It will be seen that it is built on numerous assumptions over half of which are invalid or directly contrary to clear Bible evidence. 

EIGHT: It can be proved by Daniel 7:6, 7: “And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was non the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he help up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swear by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” The question is asked, How long to the end of these wonders? These wonders are to the resurrection. See 2d and 3d verses: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever.” The answer is given by the angel, who forms Daniel it shall be for a time, times, and a half, and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all will be finished. Ez. 12:10–15: “Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; This burden concerned the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them. Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them they shall remove and go into captivity. And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulders in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes. My net also will I spread upon him and he shall be taken n my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of Chaldeans, yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there. And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them n the countries” Jer. 15:4: “And I will cause them to be removed not all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.” This scattering begun when Israel was scattered by Esarhaddon, and when the king of Judah, Manasseh, was carried to Babylon, B.C. 677. Thus they continued to be a people scattered, by the kings of the earth, until they fled into the wilderness in A.D. 538, which makes 1215 years. There they remained in the wilderness a time, times, and a half—which began A.D. 538, and continued until A.D. 1798. The kings of the earth then had power, and the time, times and a half of the scattering of the holy people is filled up by 45 years, being the remainder of the 1215, making in all 1260 years, under the nations or kings, and ending in the year 1843,—which is the fullness of times. Eph. 1:7, 10: “Having made known unto us then mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which hat purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”—when the people of God, both among Jews and Gentles, will no more be scattered, but gather in one body in Christ.21

Evaluation

As I read the above “proof” I had to shake my head and say, “How can he do that?” And then, “He can’t do that!” There are a number of tenuous assumptions behind some of these connections. The year 538 plays a key role in several of Miller’s “proofs” but: 

It is not easy to convince people of a date which is not generally attested in secular history.22

The quote from Ephesians seems to have nothing to do with Daniel, Jeremiah or the time of the second coming. Most believe this refers to what Christ did at the cross and at the resurrection rather than with some time prophecy pointing to 1843. This is another broken link in then “perfect chain of truth.”

NINE: It can be proved by Daniel 7:11–13: “And from the time that the daily sacrifices shall be taken away, and the abomination that taketh desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiters, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thous shalt rest, and stand in they lot at the end of the days.”

The number 1335 days, from the taking away of Rome Pagan, A.D. 508, to set up Rome Papal, and the reign of Papcy, as 1290 days, which was exactly fulfilled in 1290 years, being fulfilled in 1798. This proves the 1335 days to be years and that Daiel will stand in his lot in AD. 1843. For proof texts, see Dan 11:31: “And arms shall stand on his part and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that taketh desolate.” 2 Thess. 2:6–8: “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity dot already work: only he who ow letters will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” Job 19:25: “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.23

Evaluation

To come up with this “proof” Miller assumed the end of the 1290 days to be the year 1798 when the Pope of Rone was taken captive. He, and Adventists as well, call this date “the time of the end.” From this date, Miller, using the day-equals-a-year method, figured back and came to 508 which could be a key event. In Gibbon’s popular history of the Roman Empire he found that:

Anastasias sent pope the title and insignia of patrician and consul and conferred the appellation of Augustus.24

This appeared reasonable to Miller and his associates. Now Miller simply added 45 years, then difference between 1335 and 1290, to the date of 178 and he came up with 1843. 

This method reminds me f my experience in high school physics. We occasionally would practice what we called “dry dabbing.” We would figure out what the lab results were supposed to be by the formulas, then when we took our measurements in the lab, we would make sure they agreed with the conclusion we already had reached. When we did this we were not practicing good science. Neither was Miller practicing good Bible interpretation. This “proof” is not a solid link in the “perfect chain of truth.”

TEN: It can also be proved by the words of Christ, Lk. 13:32: “And he said unto them, Go ye and tell that fox, Behold I canst out devils, and I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfect.” These two days, in which Christ casts out devils and does cures are the same as Hosea’s two days, at the end of which, the devil will be chained, and cast out of the earth into the pit, and shut up. This will take 2000 years of Roman power. Rev. 12:9: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceivers the whole world: he was cast out with him.” And then the people of God will be perfected. “Rev.  20:0: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: of such the second death hath no power but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

This time began with the “great dragon,” Rev. 12:3: “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” This government will draw after him one third part of the time, which wicked men have power in the earth, viz. 6000 years; and the 7000th, the year of Christ will take possession and reign with his saints, in perfect bliss. 

This drain power began its power over the saints when the league was made with him, B.C, 158,—and will end in 1842. Then the third day will begin 1843.25

Evaluation

This is another classic example of wild proof-texting. The unwarranted assumptions here are almost too numerous to mention. Who said the “two days spoken by Christ are the same as the “two days” mentioned by Hosea? How does one know when a day is to equal a year or one thousand years? What evidence is there that these days spoken of by Jesus started in 158 B.C., long before Christ was born? Miller speaks of the devil drawing one third part of the time. Most interpret this to be one third of the angels. Upon what basis does Miller get a measure of time Surely the type of reckless proof-texting and allegorizing of Scripture cannot be the result of God guiding the minds of Miller as Ellen White contends. God cannot be credited—or blamed—for this type of interpretation. Is this an example of God moving upon His servant with clearness in the power of the Holy Spirit? I think not. This is not the way to study the Bible, nor are Miller’s conclusions truth. 

ELEVEN: The trumpets are also a revelation of time. See Rev. 9:5: “And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikers a man.” These five months began when the Turks made incursions into the Greek territories according to Gibbon, in the year 1299, on the 27th day of July. 5 months is 150 years, 5 x 30 = 150. This trumpet ended in 1449. And the sixth trumpet began to sound, and was to sound 391 years and 15 days, as in Rev. 9:15: “And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year for to slay the third part of men; and ended 1840 on the 11th of August. Then the seventh trumpet begins, and ends with the fulness of times. Rev. 10:5, 7: “And the angel which I saw stand upon the Sean and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, which he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” And synchronizes with Daniel 12:7. See section 7, where it is shown to end in the year 1843.26

Evaluation

What evidence does Miller have for starting this “prophecy of the second coming” in 1299? There is no mention of the second coming here. The “hour, day, month, and year” part of this passage says nothing about the duration of time. Rather it speaks about a precise point in time. Miller completely misses the point. This is another broken link the “perfect chain of truth” which Ellen White said God gave to Miller.

TWELVE: It can be proved by the two witnesses being clothed in sackcloth 1260 years. See Rev. 11:3: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three-acre days, clothed in sackcloth. This time began with papacy, 538, and ended in 1798, during which time the Bible was suppressed from the laity, in all the countries where papacy had power, until the laws of the papal hierarchy were abolished and free toleration was granted to the papal states in 1798. Then the remainder harmonizes with the trumpets: see Rev. 11:14, 15: “The second wo is past; and behold, the third wo cometh quickly And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” And terminates with A.D. 1843. 27

Evaluation

This seems to be only another “proof” leading to one of Miller’s key dates: 1798. He does not show how he jumped from 1798 to 1843. Perhaps he just takes this for granted.

THIRTEEN: It can be proved by Rev. 12:6, 14: “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” It is evident that the church is not now in the wilderness, for if so, she must have been there in the apostles’ days, for she enjoys more liberty now among the nations, than in any previous time since the gospel was preached; and it is very evident, for ages past, the true church has been an outlaw among the kingdoms which arose out of the Roman Empire. The church was driven into the wilderness, where they were given into the power of the Pope,—Daniel 7:25: And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into this and until a time and times and the dividing of time,”—in the year A.D, 538; and was in the wilderness 1260 yers, until 1798, when free toleration as granted in the kingdoms in the Papal territory. This also harmonizes with the witnesses and the trumpet. Compare Rev. 11:15, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever,” with Rev. 12:10, “And I hared a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night.28

Evaluation

This is nothing but a repeat of other “proofs” already addressed. 

FOURTEEN: It is proved by Rev. 13:5: “And there was given unto h a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” This time began at the same time as the preceding, when power was given to the Pope by Justinian, A.D. 538, and lasted until the Pope was carried into captivity, and his power abolished, in the year 1798. See 10th verse: “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword, must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” This beast is the same as the little horn in Daniel 7th, and synchronizes with Daniel’s “abomination that taketh desolate,” or “that astonisheth,” (See marginal reading.) Compare Daniel 11:31, and 12:11, with Rev. 13:3–8; and of course his power is abolished with the end of this “setting up,” and the 1290 years. Then Daniel 12:12,—“Blessed is he that waiters, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five, and thirty days,”—carries us to the year 1843.29

Evaluation

Again, this is just another period of time seen by Miller to equal the 126- days-years of papal domination. Remember that nothing significant even happened in 538. 

FIFTEEN: It can be proved by the numbers in Rev. 13:18: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six,” connected with Daniel 7:12, as before quoted. This text shows the number of years that Rome would exist under the blasphemous head of Paganism after it was connected with the people of God by league; beginning B.C. 158, add 666 years, will bring us to A.D. 508, when the daily was taken away. Then add Daniel 12:12, the 1335 to 508, makes the year 1843. When the beast and his image will be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and the Lamb. See Rev. 14:9–12: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cu of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascenders up forever and ever: and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receivers the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”30

Evaluation

The number of the mark of the beast is not a time prophecy. Rather, it is a description of a coming evil power, or person, which makes war against God’s people. To portray the number of the beast—a wicked power—as a prophecy of the second coming of Christ—a righteous and holy event—is completely unwarranted.

Conclusion

We have now looked at Miller’s fifteen “proofs” and have seen his methods and resulting conclusions. That Miller was in error in his conclusions cannot be denied: Christ did not come in 1843, nor did he come in 1844 when “the error” of one year was discovered in his calculations.31

Evaluation of Miller’s Hermeneutics

As one reads over Miller’s fifteen proofs it is obvious why Miller was wrong. He used faulty methods of interpretation. Among his erroneous methods are the following:

  1. Miller used the “proof-text” method. He explained one Bible verse with another. That in itself is not wrong. The error comes in when the context is ignored and the verses selected have no logical connection.
  2. Miller used the allegorical method of interpretation. This procedure sees more than one meaning in every Scripture. It delights in finding—“reading int” would be more accurate—a “hidden” meaning in test. To do this, one must define a given term or symbol with another meaning found elsewhere in Scripture. This method has no controls and often leads to wild proof-texting and sensational conclusions. 
  3. Miller relied on symbolic numerology. It seems that any time the number seven was used, he took it to be a prophecy of the second coming.32
  4. Miller built on many linking assumptions. All of Miller’s fifteen “proofs” are nothing more than a chain of assumptions. Many of these are invalid assumptions, contrary to sound Bible study methods. Miller seems to give no thought to this problem. As stated before, and as we will point out again in later chapters, conclusions built upon a chan of assumptions are no better than their weakest assumption. The number of assumptions present in a given argument is inversely proportional, by an exponential ratio, to the possibility that the conclusion will be correct.
  5. Mill relied on the accuracy of the “year-day” principle. This is not a valid biblical principle of interpretation for all time” prophecies.33
  6. Miller did not give consideration to the meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew. Granted, he was not a scholar. Nevertheless, when he was presented with evidence on the meaning of original language which undermined his conclusions, he immediately rejected these with an attitude of coziness.34
  7. Miller built his eschatology around Pagan and Papal Rome. This was common in his day and still is in many churches, including the Seventh-day Adventist church, The fact remans, however, that Miller was wrong. And the continual focus on Rome and the pope was one of the factors leading to his erroneous conclusions.
  8. Miller did not practice genuine exegesis, which is letting Scripture speak for itself. It is quite obvious that he reached many of his “proofs” by reading into the Bible texts what he wanted to find, rather than reading out of the texts what they actually said. 

Some of the Old Testament texts that the millerite used do not appear as prophecies to a modern reader. There are also several explanations which call for the reaction: This is no exegesis at all.35

  1. Miller seems to have had no understanding of the difference between the old and new covenants, a problem which exists in the Seventh-day Adventist church to this day. He could leap from some Old Testament text about Israel and immediately apply it to the church.36
  2. Miller was not Christ-centered in his interpretation of Scripture. This fact, perhaps more than any other, lies at the foundation of his erroneous conclusions. Speaking of Miller’s rules of interpretation, Dr. Arasola says: 

Finally, and possibly most significantly, one can consider what is omitted I’m miller’s rules. They make no mention of Christ, of salvation or of the gospel. This matches the near total lack of devotional writing in Millerite periodicals.37

White, Miller, and the facts

We must now begin to wrestle with the tension between what Ellen White said about Miller, and the facts. Was Miller inn fact guided by angels in his search of the prophecies? Was Miller really chosen by God and entrusted with a special message from God?38 Was Miller’s mind truly guided by God and connected to the source of wisdom? Did God actually guide Miller to his conclusions: Were Miller’s conclusions truly “great light” from heaven? Did God really open up Miller’s understanding of the prophecies which had ever been dark to God’s people? Did God guide Miller in his discovery of how one text of Scripture opened up the meaning of another, and thus endorse his proof-text method Did God reveal to Miler a “perfect chain of truth”? Should Miller be associated with the “greatest” of Bible history such as Elisha, John the Baptist, and Noah? Could one honestly describe Miller’s message as “the everlasting sopped,” “the mysteries of the Kingdom of God,” “this saving message,” and a “heavenly message”? Was Miller truly correct n his multiple periods ending in 1843 and his “many proofs”? Can we say fr certain that Miller was not a fanatic Was iller’s chart, which listed his multiple proofs, exactly as God wanted it Does Gd still want it that way? Ele White said, “It should never be changed,”

The foundation has been laid

We are only at the beginning of this book, but those who have accepted Ellen White as a true prophet must begin to wrestle with the facts. Was Miller right or wrong? Was Ellen White right or wrong? The stakes are high and the facts speak for themselves. 

It is very doubtful if any trained, evangelical scholar would support Miller’s methods, or any of Miller’s conclusions today. But heron lies the beginning of a theological and historical saga that rivals fiction. 

Endnotes

  1. “The backbone of Miller’s fifteen proofs was a complex system of interlinked prophecies from the books of Daniel and Revelation which in turn shaped the teachings of Seventh-day Adventists.” Arasola, The End of Historicism, p. ii.
  2. Ibid. p. 2.
  3. “University microfilms has published a microfilm collection of rare books and manuscripts on Millerism. These films include over 1000 titles, Millerite as well as non-Millerite, 110 volumes of periodicals and over 1000 copies of letters and manuscripts….The largest collection is found at Aurora College, Aurora, Illinois.” Ibid., p. 5. 
  4. Arasola, Ibid, p. 21.
  5. See Miller’s Lectures, p. 251.
  6. This stands in contrast with the historical-grammatical method used by evangelicals.
  7. Arasola, The End of Historicism, p. 101. 
  8. See Second Advent Library, No. 14.
  9. See Miller’s Life and Views, p. 69.
  10. For a more detailed description of this prophecy and Miller’s absurd interpretation of it, see Arasola, The end of Historicism, p. 105.
  11. See Life and Views, p. 157. 
  12. See Second Advent Library, No. 14. 
  13. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 335.
  14. Arasola, The End of Historicism, pp. 116, 117.
  15. See Ratzlaff, “Jubilee Sabbath,” in Sabbath in Christ.
  16. See Second Adventist Library, No. 3, p. 45. 
  17. Arasola, The End of Historicism, p. 118. 
  18. See Miller’s Lectures, p. 73. 
  19. See 1 Maccabees, chapters 4–6 for a description of the work of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and the cleansing of the Jewish sanctuary. 
  20. It is true that the desecration of the temple by Antiochus is used by Jesus and Paul as a type of the future antichrist. See Mt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:1–12.
  21. See Second Advent Library, No 6, p. 45.
  22. Arasola, The End of Historicism, p. 133. 
  23. See Miller’s Lectures, p. 100.
  24. Arasola, The End of Historicism, p. 135. 
  25. See Second Advent Library, No. 3, p. 61.
  26. See Miller’s Lectures, p. 190.
  27. See Ibid. 
  28. See Ibid., p. 20.
  29. See Ibid, p. 27.
  30. See Ibid., p. 76.
  31. Miller and his followers had not taken into account that 1 B.C. was followed by 1 A.D with no year zero. I was challenged to find historical proof for this statement by one of the reviewers of the first draft of this book. As yet, I have been unable to do so. However, this is what I was taught in Bible classes in a SDA academy and college. 
  32. One person who reviewed the first draft of this book wrote this note: “It looks like Miller did a concordance study on the number seven and ended up with a ‘perfect’ mess!”
  33. See Ford, Daniel 8:14, pp. A-118—126.
  34. See Arasola, The End of Historicism, p. 101.
  35. See Ibid., p. 3.
  36. Ratzlaff, Sabbath in Christ, has several chapters dealing with the old and new covenants and how they relate to each other.
  37. Arasola The End of Historicism, p. 59. 
  38. Adventists in general, even some who call themselves Evangelical Adventists, continue to hold that while Miller was wrong in his dates for the second coming of Christ, he was, nevertheless, correct in many things: he taught premillennialism, and he used the historicist method of prophetic interpretation—upon which Adventists still rely. They hold that Miller was correct in teaching that October ww, 1844, was the fulfillment of Daniel 8:14 on which the integrity of the SDA movement rests. (From notes of Adventists who read the first draft of this book.) It is acknowledged that in the Miller movement, many people accepted Christ. We should also give credit to Miller in that he did not accept any fanciful reinterpretation (as did those who became SDAs) to make it appear his predictions were right when they were wrong. Some credit Miller for bringing the message of the second advent of Christ to the Protestant churches, even if his dates were wrong. However in retrospect others believe that because of the fanatical excitement and poor hermeneutics used by the Adventists in their proclamation of the second coming of Christ, the Protestant church as a whole was inoculated against the doctrine of the soon coming of Christ.  
Dale Ratzlaff
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